The festive opening of the regatta was
held on the evening of July 9 in Pärnu where the
sailors were greeted by minister
Indrek Saar, deputy mayor Rainer Aavik, Pärnu YC commodore Väino Hallikmägi, Egon Elstein from the Yachting
Union and Margus Hiet representing Saaremaa Marine Sport
Association in Pärnu Yacht Club. The speeches
were followed by mellow music and a long-awaited summer party leaving also time
for plotting for the long regatta ahead.

On Sunday at 13:00 a
fleet of 111 yachts from five contries set sail for the first leg. Almost the
entire length of the leg had to be sailed against wind and unfortunately there
were already some teams who were forced to discontinue.

PRO Andres Talts said the conditions
were perfect for sailing. At the starting point wind was measured at 6-7 m/s, the sun was shining
ad the sea was wavy. During the day the wind picked up and the average wind
speed of the leg was 11-12 m/s with gusts of 15 m/s. „Most of the leg was windward but the wind
followed the course very favourably. The first yacht reached Kihnu half past
five and the last one came in two hours later.

In the big boat group
ORC I with seven yachts
racing the Helly Hansen/Sportland
leg was victorious for ORC European champion Jaak Jõgi on Forte from Kalev Yacht Club. Yacht Tuule with Jaan Mugra at the helm was just
18 seconds behind them. Sylvia and the team of Aare Kööp came in third.

ORC II with 13 yachts was
won by the last year's overall runner-up Merepärl from Pärnu Yacht Club steered by Alari Akermann. Margus Žuravljov on Amserv Toyota
Sailing Team from Kalev YC was second and Ivar Aru on Cherie, also Kalev YC, was
third.

The 3rd group CDL<8, where eight teams
are racing for the
Estonian champion title, was headed by the last year's winner yacht Kadri from Saaremaa Merispordi Seltsis with Tanel Õun at the helm. Lagle II with Ülari Velviste from the same club was second and Lagle II with Jaan Tiidemann from Kalev YC came in third.

The first leg in ESTLYS I with eleven teams
racing was won by Tessa and
Alar Ivanson's team. Santa Maria from Kalev YC and Mairold Metsaviir came in second and,
the only foreign yacht making it to the podium in the first leg, Fortuna II from Hercules with Stanislav Vikkhorev at the helm, were
third. There are 17 yachts racing in this group.

The two first teams
in ESTLYS II to reach Kihnu
were both from Pärnu Yacht Club: Priit Jürioja on Windwalker and Tanel Kursi on Põhjatäht were first and second, respectively. Last
year's winner Brigitta with Mikk Metstak's team from Kalev YC
were third.

A group with enormous
amount of teams competing, ESTLYS III, was successful for Aurora and Pille Kaas from Haapsalu Yacht
Club. Kalev YC yacht Kristi with Janno Luurmees at the helm were
second and Peeter Siniväli's team on Iir from Kalev YC were third. There
are 28 teams competing in this group.

Among Folkboots the first leg was
victorious for the last year's champioships silver Peeter Välkmann on Tee Chee from Kalev YC. 'Fairytale king' Jaanus Nõgisto on
Muinasjutukuningas came in four minutes
later and Meelis Lindemann on Tiina from Kelvingi were third. There
are 17 folkboots racing for the Estonian Champions title.